Intensity interferometry of thermal photons from relativistic heavy ion collisions

Intensity interferometry of thermal photons, having transverse momenta $k_T \approx$ 0.1 -- 2.0 GeV, produced in relativistic collision of heavy nuclei is studied. It is seen to provide an accurate information about the temporal and spatial structure of the interacting system. The source dimensions and their $k_T$ dependence revealed by the photon interferometry, display a richness not seen in pion interferometry. We attribute this to difference in the source functions, the fact that photons come out from every stage of the collision and from every point in the system, and the fact that the rate of production of photons is different for the quark-gluon plasma, which dominates the early hot stage, and the hadronic matter which populates the last phase of the collision dynamics. The usefulness of this procedure is demonstrated by an application to collision of lead nuclei at the CERN SPS. Prediction for the transverse momentum dependence of the sizes for SPS, RHIC, and LHC energies are given.Comment: 16 pages, 11 figures. Added discussions and references. To appear in Phys. Rev.

PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATION AND TOXICOLOGICAL STUDY OF RASA BHASMA

The traditional use of Ayurvedic formulations is a widely accepted therapeutic option especially in chronic diseases. The quality of Bhasma depends on the manufacturing procedures and dosage schedule mentioned as per the classical texts. The Ayurvedic formulations are being considered as therapeutic potential agent as they have been evaluated based on experimental analysis. However for global acceptance the safety is a concern, the WHO has recognized Ayurveda as a part of integrated system of medicine. In view of developments an investigation is undertaken to evaluate the safety of a Bhasma. Rasa Bhasma, an organo-metallic compound is one such compound described in Rasashastra for treating acute and chronic diseases. It is prepared in several steps, which increases its therapeutic potential and eliminates its metallic toxicity. Among the various Bhasma preparations a popularly recommended and used formulation of Rasa Bhasma was selected for the toxicology study. In the present investigation it is proposed to undertake a short (acute) term pre clinical acute toxicity test on Rats, to obtain the safety profile. The proposed experiment has been under taken after taking the approval of Institutional Approval Ethical Committee, SIPRA Labs to conduct the experiment at their centre. Acute toxicity study on 15 Wistar Rats, have been randomizingly selected and divided into two groups to receive the test compound in a vehicle and identified as a TD and a vehicle group to receive Honey, Water for a period of 7 days and identified as VC. 8 (3VC+5TD) animals after 48 hours and remaining 7 (2VC+5TD) animals after 7 days were subjected for clinical haematology, chemistry and necropsy observation. After 7 days of exposure to the test compound of recommended therapeutic dose, no significant changes in haematological parameters & clinical chemistry parameters were found. No Pre-terminal deaths occurred in rats, which received test compound at therapeutic dose levels. No abnormalities in physical, physiological, clinical chemistry, hematological parameters and no gross necropsy changes were observed on administration (oral) of test compound prepared according to the classical literature. At this level of study, it may be concluded that Rasa Bhasma is safe as per toxicological study and can be subjected for further study of clinical evaluation

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY PROPERTIES OF UNEXPLORED PLANTS – CUSCUTA REFLEXA AND COCCULUS HIRSUTUS – AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY

Objective: The study aimed to document the rarely explored plants, namely, Cuscuta reflexa (CRA) and Cocculus hirsutus (CHP) used by the ethnic people of a specific region. The anti-inflammatory (AI) property of kwath of CRA (KCRA), kwath of CHP (KCHP), and their blend (kwath blend [KB]) was also assessed. Methods: The KCRA and KCHP were prepared following standard Ayurvedic procedures. The AI property was determined by carrageenan-induced paw edema at doses; 250, 125, and 62.5 mg/kg. The KB (500 mg/kg) was prepared using equal parts of KCRA and KCHP in view of the potential AI property as compared to the individual plants. Ibuprofen (100 mg/kg) was used as the standard AI drug standard drug (SD). Results: The carrageenan-induced paw inflammation was highest and doubled at 3 h. The oral administration of SD (100 mg/kg) produced a high reduction of edema (78.47%) at 3 h. Both KCRA and KCHP had reduced edema and were equally potent (EC50; 139.8 and 147.3 mg/kg, respectively) at the early phase. However, the efficacy of KCRA was greater than KCHP at the second phase of inflammation (EC50=313.6 and 2760 mg/kg, respectively). KCRA was efficacious and potent as an AI agent. Unlike SD, KB had effectively inhibited paw edema from the 6th h onward. The AI activity of KB was superior compared to individual plant groups. Conclusions: The study demonstrated that the traditional formulation – kwath of rarely explored plants, namely, CRA, CHP, and KB has AI property and can be explored to develop them as AI agents

Combined effects of internal heat generation and viscous dissipation for double diffusive with Forchheimer fluid model

In this paper, a numerical study using shooting technique is applied for a double diffusive flow for the combined effects of internal heat generation and viscous dissipation over a vertical heated plate under the influence of variable fluid properties is carried out. The governing equations of the physical problem are non-linear and coupled partial differential equations for velocity, temperature and concentration distributions. Using a suitable similarity transformation, the governing equations are transformed to ordinary differential equations involving the various non-dimensional parameters of the problem. Please download the full abstract below

The effect of fuel and fuel-oxidizer combinations on ZnO nanoparticles synthesized by solution combustion technique

We report on the synthesis of nanocrystalline ZnO particles by solution combustion technique using new organic fuels such as l-Glutamine, Leucine and l-Valine. The thermal decomposition and combustion of nitrate-organic fuels (precursors) were investigated through TG-DTA and XRD techniques. The results show that, the nitrate-organic fuel (precursor) gels exhibit self-propagating behavior at 400 °C after ignition in air. The effect of fuel and fuel to oxidizer ratio on structural properties of as-synthesized ZnO powder was investigated. It was observed that, the particle size of as-synthesized ZnO powder depends on F/O ratio, which influences the combustion process. The detailed analysis on the structure of as-synthesized ZnO powder was carried out by Rietveld refinement on XRD data and through TEM studies. Further, adiabatic temperature (Tad) was calculated through thermodynamic theoretical calculations for different fuel to oxidizer ratios. The results were discussed on the basis of the correlations established between the Tad, nature of the combustion and structural properties of the resulting powders

COLLAGEN FROM SQUID AND ITS BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY

Collagen is the sole protein found predominantly in the animal kingdom. The main source of collagen which had been land animals previously is being replaced by other alternative sources due to certain health related, religious and social concerns. Thus additional reliable, safer and productive options for collagen extraction have been studied extensively since then. Its wide-ranging application, especially in the biomedical and cosmetic field, is also a basis for its study to have become a topic of interest among the researchers. Isolation of collagen from the processing wastes of marine organisms has been receiving a lot of attention recently due to the promising outcome it brings forth. In the current review, we have focused upon squid, mainly its processing waste, as an alternative source of collagen including the studies carried out on the same to a certain extent

Functional and radiological outcome in surgically managed posterior wall and column fractures of acetabulum

Background: The incidence of acetabular fractures has increased following road traffic accidents. The aim of the study is to evaluate functional and radiological outcome in surgically managed posterior wall and column fractures of acetabulum.Methods: This is a prospective study done at Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad between May 2018 and May 2020. The sample size is 20 patients between the age group 18-60 years who presented to the hospital with closed posterior wall and/or column fractures of acetabulum with or without posterior dislocation of hip joint. Functional outcome is assessed by using the modified Merle D’ Aubigne Postel clinical grading system, radiological outcome by Matta et al and perioperative complication are assessed by retrospectively analyzing medical records and radiographics examination.Results: Functional outcome according to Merle D’ Aubigne and Postel score 16 patients (75%) showed good, 3 patients (20%) showed fair, 1 patient (5%) showed poor outcome. Radiological outcome according to Matta criteria, 16 patients (75%) showed excellent quality of joint reduction, 4 patients (25%) showed good quality of reduction of joint. There was significant correlation between anatomic reduction of the joint surface and functional outcome of the patient in our study (p value <0.05).Conclusions: Accurate joint reduction is of utmost importance in reduction of posterior wall or column fractures of acetabulum as posterior wall is the weight bearing zone. Functional outcome depends on fracture type, associated injuries, selection of patient, time between injury and surgery and postoperative rehabilitation

Evaluation of apricot genotypes for table use, drying and their storage life

Fifteen apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) varieties/genotypes grown under temperate ecosystem were evaluated for table use, drying, quality maintenance and shelf life during their storage at refrigerated temperature (60% RH and 4±2°C Temp.). Storage life of fresh fruit PLW, TSS, acidity, ascorbic acid was measured in stored fruits at 4 days interval till 28 days of storage. Present investigations revealed that there were significant differences for physico chemical characteristics of different apricot varieties/genotypes, their drying potential and quality maintenance during storage period. The varieties CITH-AP-1, CITH-AP-2, CITH-AP-6, Heartly, Turkey and New Castle were better with respect to quality parameters like weight, size, firmness, TSS, TSS/acid ratio, ascorbic acid and b-carotene and maximum shelf life, whereas, after drying varieties such as CITH-AP-2, CITH-AP-3, Afghani, Turkey and Erani were having good quality characteristics like colour, firmness, TSS, ascorbic acid, b-carotene and better shelf life. These varieties need further exploitation for commercialization and significantly high returns

Biosynthesis and characterization of silver nanoparticles from Sargassum wightii and its antibacterial activity against multi-resistant human pathogens

839-844In association with human health there is a growing need to develop nanomaterials using biological approach which must be ecofriendly, non-toxic, and cheaper. Therefore, the present research analyses were framed to synthesis and characterize silver nanoparticles from the extracts of seaweed S. wightii. The synthesized silver nanoparticles were subjected to UV-Visible Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy, High Pressure Liquid Chromatography, X-Ray Diffraction and antibacterial activity of agar well diffusion method. The formation of Ag-NPs was confirmed through the presence of an intense absorption peak at 420 nm using UV-Visible spectroscopy. The HPLC profile showed the presence of six secondary metabolites. The FT-IR spectra of biosynthesized AgNp of present biomolecules are amino acids, esters, polysaccharides, phenols, alkanes, chlorophyll, protein amide-I band, protein amide II band, carboxylic group, glycosidic linkage, carbohydrate, and proteins etc. The morphology of biosynthesized AgNps as reported to be spherical in shape was documented by SEM. The nanoparticles are crystalline in structure was confirmed by XRD. The results of antibacterial activity against the gram positive and gram-negative bacteria of human pathogens confirmed and elucidate that the seaweed synthesized nanoparticles could play a profound and reliable role in nano based medicine therapy